Squat Rack Holder Accessory

ABSTRACT

A squat rack item holder may comprise a platform, pin flange, arm, and pin secured to the pin flange, and may be configured so that the squat rack item holder may be installed on a squat rack by inserting the pin through the holes in a squat rack post, and then rotating the squat rack item holder to a rest position such that a securement component prevents removal of the pin from the squat rack post while in the rest position/orientation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Squat racks are a commonly used type of gym equipment. Conventionalsquat racks comprise four square posts, each having a series of holesfor receiving pins to secure attachments and/or accessories to the squatrack. Often, during a workout or other use of a squat rack, it would beconvenient for a squat rack user to have a place to set a drink, pen, orother item. What is needed is an apparatus for convenientlystoring/supporting a drink on other item on a squat rack.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A squat rack item holder may comprise a platform, pin flange, arm, andpin secured to the pin flange, and may be configured so that the squatrack item holder may be installed on a squat rack by inserting the pinthrough the holes in a squat rack post, and then rotating the squat rackitem holder to a rest position such that a securement component preventsremoval of the pin from the squat rack post while in the restposition/orientation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-J show various perspectives of an exemplary squat rack drinkholder. For the sake of clarity, FIG. 1E is a top-down perspective andFIG. 1F is a bottom-up perspective.

FIGS. 2A-B show two perspectives of an exemplary squat rack drink holderin an intermediate installation position.

FIGS. 3A-D show four perspectives of an exemplary squat rack drinkholder as installed on a squat rack.

FIGS. 4A-J show various perspectives of an exemplary squat rack drinkholder. For the sake of clarity, FIG. 4E is a top-down perspective andFIG. 4F is a bottom-up perspective.

FIGS. 5A-B show two perspectives of an exemplary squat rack drink holderin an intermediate installation position.

FIGS. 6A-D show four perspectives of an exemplary squat rack drinkholder as installed on a squat rack.

FIGS. 7A-J show various perspectives of an exemplary squat rack drinkholder. For the sake of clarity, FIG. 7E is a top-down perspective andFIG. 7F is a bottom-up perspective.

FIGS. 8A-B show two perspectives of an exemplary squat rack drink holderin an intermediate installation position.

FIGS. 9A-D show four perspectives of an exemplary squat rack drinkholder as installed on a squat rack.

FIGS. 10A-J show various perspectives of an exemplary squat rack drinkholder. For the sake of clarity, FIG. 10E is a top-down perspective andFIG. 10F is a bottom-up perspective.

FIGS. 11A-B show two perspectives of an exemplary squat rack drinkholder in an intermediate installation position.

FIGS. 12A-D show four perspectives of an exemplary squat rack drinkholder as installed on a squat rack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.63/215,592 titled “Squat Rack Holder Accessory,” filed on Jun. 28, 2021,the first inventor of which is Andrew Bakker, and which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

A squat rack holder accessory is disclosed. In general, the accessorymay be used for holding/storing a drink or other item on a squat rack orsimilar structure.

TABLE OF REFERENCE NUMBERS FROM DRAWINGS

The following table is for convenience only and should not be construedto supersede any potentially inconsistent disclosure herein.

Reference Number Description 100 squat rack drink holder 110 platform  120a-e sides 130 arm 140 pin flange 150 pin 155 screw 200 squat rackdrink holder 210 platform 220 wall 230 arm 240 flange 250 pin 300 squatrack drink holder 310 platform 320 front wall   330a-b side walls  340a-b flanges   345a-b flange-pin holes 350 pin 352 pin holder ring354 spring-loaded retractable ball 400 squat rack drink holder 410platform 420 front wall   430a-b side walls 440 back wall   450a-bstabilization arms 460 magnet 500 squat rack post

A squat rack drink holder may comprise, as described herein and as shownin the accompanying figures, at least a platform or other element forsupporting a drink; a stabilization element, e.g., wall(s), forstabilizing and/or preventing the drink from falling or tipping; and asecuring mechanism for securing the drink holder to a squat rack.Although the disclosure herein focuses on and references a drink, theinvention disclosed herein may be used for holding and/or securing itemsother than a drink.

Although squat rack posts generally come in conventional sizes anddimensions, the invention disclosed herein may be scaled and/or adaptedto work on many dimensions of a squat rack post. Conventionally, a squatrack post is made from 3-inch by 3-inch square tubing and has ⅝-inch or1-inch holes for installing squat rack accessories. FIGS. 2A-B, 3A-D,5A-B, 6A-D, 8A-B, 9A-D, 11A-B, and 12A-D show exemplary squat rackposts.

Side-Pin Design

As shown in FIGS. 1A-J, exemplary squat rack drink holder 100 maycomprise a platform/support 110 to support (support, hang, or otherwisesupport/hold) a drink or other item, sides 120 a-e to keep a drink orother item from moving or tipping, an arm 130 for maintainingposition/orientation relative to a squat rack post, a pin flange 140 forsecuring a pin to the squat rack drink holder, and a pin 150 forinteracting with one or more holes in a squat rack post. In someembodiments, sides 120 may be unnecessary, e.g., where it does notmatter if an item tips/falls, or if the support is anapparatus/mechanism for hanging an item, or in any other supportembodiment in which sides for preventing tipping or maintainingorientation/stability are unnecessary.

Although the embodiment in FIGS. 1A-J shows five sides 120 a-e, othernumbers of sides may be used.

In one embodiment, pin flange 140 may include a female-threaded hole forscrew 155 to be used to secure pin flange 140 to pin 150, as shown inFIGS. 1C-H. Other mechanisms, including but not limited to hardware,epoxy, glue, and/or magnet(s) may be used to secure pin 155 to pinflange 140.

Pin 150 may be sufficiently long to go through the holes on both sidesof a squat rack post, as shown in FIGS. 2A-B and 3A-D.

As shown in FIGS. 2A-B and 3A-D, squat rack drink holder 100 may besecured by rotating drink holder 100 90 degrees (or a sufficient amountso that pin 150 may be inserted into holes in squat rack post 500without squat rack drink holder 100 obstructing the motion necessary toinsert pin 150 into holes in squat rack post 500), inserting pin 150through the holes in the squat rack post 500, and rotating (which formany embodiments will happen by gravity) squat rack drink holder 90degrees (or a sufficient amount of rotation to reach a resting state) inthe opposite direction so that arm 130 rests against the side of thesquat rack post as shown at least in FIGS. 3A-D.

Pin 150 may be secured to pin flange 140 in many ways. For example, asshown in FIGS. 1A-J, a 155 screw may be inserted through hole in pinflange 140 into a threaded female hole in pin 150. When the screw istightened, pin 150 is clamped onto pin flange 140. Alternatively, pin150 may be a monolithic component of drink holder 100, e.g., by awelding or other manufacturing processes. Other methods and/ortechniques are known and may be used to secure pin 150 to pin flange140.

In one embodiment, some or all of drink holder 100, and/or pin 150, maybe monolithic. In another embodiment, some or all components of drinkholder 100, and/or pin 150, may be secured to each other usingmechanical means (e.g., screws, rivets, nuts bolts, friction fittings,etc.), chemical means (e.g., glue, adhesives, bonding compounds, epoxy,etc.), or other means. For example, platform 110 may be secured to sides120 using rivets or nuts and bolts.

In one embodiment, drink holder 100 may be made from %-inch thick steel,or aluminum, or other metal or metal composite. Drink holder 100 mayalso be made from plastics, ceramics, composite materials, or any othermaterial with sufficient rigidity and structural strength.

Although many of the panels/components shown in the figures are solid,this is not necessary as long as the component retains sufficientstrength and rigidity. For example, as shown in at least FIGS. 1A-J and2A-D, patterns and/or lettering may be cut into various componentsand/or panels without materially compromising the functionality of thedrink holder.

In one embodiment, drink holder 100 may be manufactured by cutting andbending a metal sheet and then adding the pin as described herein.

In one embodiment, sides 120 a-e of drink holder 100 may beapproximately 2.25 inches tall. The sheet metal may be 11 gauge (⅛″inches thick). Changing the dimensions of the designs, e.g., to scale,or for differently-sized squat racks, or for other applications, istrivial and within the scope of the disclosure herein. Additionally, thedesign(s) disclosed herein may be easily scaled and/or modified forsquat rack posts having different shapes e.g., rectangle instead ofsquare.

Additionally, the dimensions of pin 150 may be easily adjusted. Somesquat rack posts use differently-size holes. ⅝-inch and 1-inch arecommon diameters for holes in squat rack posts. Pin 150 may have adiameter and length to fit comfortably and snugly into the holes in thesquat rack post. In some embodiments, e.g., where pin 150 is secured topin flange 140 using a screw, pin 150 may be interchangeable so thatdifferent pin sizes may be used.

Additionally, the platform and sides are not necessary to thefunctionality of the drink holder described herein. Many othermechanical shapes and/or patterns (other than a platform and sides) maybe used for supporting and/or attaching an item, e.g., a drink.

Back-Pin Design

FIGS. 4A-J, 5A-B, and 6A-D show an alternative design of squat rackdrink holder 200. Squat rack drink holder 200 is similar to drink holder100, except that the pin in drink holder 200 is secured to the wallaround the platform instead of to a flange/plate at the back of theapparatus.

As shown in FIGS. 4A-J, 5A-B, and 6A-D, wall 220 may continuously curveand wrap around platform 210. In other embodiments, wall 220 may be anyother structure that provides stabilization for a drink on platform 210and additionally provides a securement location for pin 250. As shown inFIGS. 5A-B and 6A-D, the components of drink holder 200 are dimensionedso that drink holder may be rotated for fitting pin 250 through a squatrack without obstruction from arm 230 or flange 240, and then rotatedback to a resting position so that arm 230 resides against the side ofsquat rack 500 as shown in FIGS. 5A-B and 6A-D, and so that flange 240prevents drink holder from being removed/uninstalled from squat rack 500while drink holder 200 is in the resting position.

As shown in FIGS. 4A-6D, the part of wall 220 that holds pin 250 may behigher than the adjacent walls and may be referred to as a pin flange.

Through-Pin Design

FIGS. 7A-9D show an alternative design of squat rack drink holder 300.Drink holder 300 may comprise platform 310, front wall 320, side walls330 a-b, flanges 340 a-b, flange-pin holes 345 a-b, and pin 350. Asshown in FIGS. 7A-9D, front wall 320 and side walls 330 a-b may preventa drink from tipping and keep the drink in place on platform 310.Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 9A-D, when installed on squat rack thesquat rack acts as an additional side to keep the drink in place andprevent it from tipping. Although a fourth wall (in additional to frontwall 320 and side walls 330 a-b could be included on drink holder 300,the fourth wall may be unnecessary because the squat rack will act as awall when drink holder 300 is installed. Flanges 340 a-b may besecured/connected to side walls 330 a-b and may comprise flange-pinholes 345 a-b that are dimensioned to fit on a squat rack as shown inFIGS. 8A-9D and to allow for insertion of pin 350.

Pin 350 may comprise pin holder ring 352 and spring-loaded retractableball 354. Neither pin holder ring 352 nor spring-loaded retractable ball354 is strictly necessary. These features are included for convenienceand/or improved performance. Pin holder ring 352 may serve two purposes.First, pin holder ring 352 may all for easier handling because it is alarger feature and has an opening, both of which may make it easier tohold and/or manipulate pin 350 with a hand and fingers. Second, pinholder ring is dimensioned to be too large to fit through flange-pinhole 345, thereby preventing pin 350 from sliding out (in the directionof spring-loaded retractable ball 354) of drink holder 300 and/or squatrack while instilled and/or in use. Spring-loaded retractable ball 354may be a ball or other shape that protrudes past the surface of pin 350in a default state, but may be pushed in, by apply pressure to compressa spring, so that it does not protrude past the surface in a compressedstate. Spring-loaded retractable ball 354 may prevent pin 350 fromsliding out (in the direction of pin holder ring 352) of drink holder300 and/or squat rack while installed and/or in use.

Many other mechanisms and/or features are known in the art and may beused for preventing pin 350 from sliding out while in use. For example,in one alternative circular grooves in both ends of pin 350 may preventpin 350 from sliding out while in use.

Although shown in FIGS. 7A-9D as a monolithic piece of metal, drinkholder 300 may alternatively comprise one or more components secured toeach other by any of many ways known in the art.

FIGS. 7A-9D show that flange-pin holes 345 a-b may have a dual-sizingfeature. This feature is not necessary and is merely for convenience.With the dual-sizing feature, it may be easier to insert pin 350 throughflange-pin holes 345 a-b, after which gravity will cause drink holder300 to settle such that pin 350 is resting in the upper portion(s) ofthe dual-sized flange-pin holes.

FIGS. 8A-B show how drink holder 300 may be installed on squat rack.

Magnet Design

FIGS. 10A-12D show an alternative design for a squat rack drink holder400. Drink holder 400 may comprise platform 410, front wall 420, sidewalls 430 a-b, back wall 440, stabilization arms 450 a-b, and magnet460. Magnet 460 may be recessed in back wall 440 so that magnet 460 isgenerally flush with the surface of back wall 440. In one embodiment,magnet 460 may be a 90-pound magnet. Various sizes and strengths ofmagnets may be used depending on desired characteristics, e.g.,stability and strength of magnetic force between drink holder 400 andsquat rack.

Drink holder 400 may be dimensioned so that stabilization arms 450 a-bfit around squat rack as shown in FIGS. 11A-12D.

In some embodiments, one or more magnets may be placed in back wall 440and/or in stabilization arms 450 a-b to achieve the desired magneticforce between drink holder 400 and squat rack.

Although FIGS. 10A-12D show stabilization arms 450 a-b as flat plates,stabilization arms 450 a-b could have different shapes and dimensions aslong as they prevent rotation of drink holder 400 relative to squat rackwhen drink holder 400 is installed on squat rack.

In one embodiment, drink holder 400 may include one or more bumps orother protrusions designed to fit into the holes in a squat rack toprovide a mechanical mechanism for preventing drink holder 400 fromrotating (or slipping/falling) relative to squat rack. For example, oneor more bumps may be placed on the inside surfaces of stabilization arms450 a-b and/or on back wall 440 (on the side of back wall 440 that willbe adjacent to squat rack 500 when drink holder is installed on squatrack 500).

Note Regarding Significant Features

The description and figures disclosed are merely exemplary andrepresentative of the scope of the disclosed invention. In general, thefollowing features are important for some of the variations describedherein: (1) pin adapter comprising a pin (or substantially similar orfunctional component) sized for holes/openings in a squat rack post. (2)an arm for gravity-resting/stabilization, where the arm is configured torest on the squat rack post on a side that is not interfacing with thepin adapter; (3) a an item support/holder/hanging apparatus connected tothe arm; and (4) an opening allowing for rotating the drink holder to aresting position after inserting the pin adapter into the squat rackpost. In a preferred embodiment, either the item holder or a flange orsimilar component is opposite the securement point for the pin adapterso that, when the drink holder is rotated into the resting position, theitem holder or flange prevents the pin adapter from sliding out of thesquat rack post without rotating the drink holder out of the restingposition.

Additionally, as noted herein above, many of the walls/sides are notrequired for functionality but do promote item stability.

What is claimed is:
 1. A squat rack item holder, comprising: a platform;a pin flange; and arm; and a pin; wherein: the pin is secured to the pinflange such that the pin is oriented parallel to the platform; the armis perpendicular to the platform; the pin flange is perpendicular to theplatform; in an installed orientation the platform is parallel to aground; and the squat rack item holder is dimensioned and configured sothat in at least one orientation the pin may be inserted through a squatrack post and, after such insertion, rotated to a rest position fromwhich the pin cannot be removed from the squat rack.
 2. The squat rackitem holder of claim 1, wherein the arm is connected to the platform ona first end of the arm and to the pin flange on the other end of thearm.
 3. The squat rack item holder of claim 1, wherein: the arm isconnected on a first end of the arm to the platform and the arm isperpendicular to the platform; the arm is connected on a second end ofthe arm to a component that prevents removal of the pin from the squatrack when the squat rack item holder is in an installed position; andthe pin flange is perpendicular to and secured to the platform.
 4. Thesquat rack item holder of claim 1, further comprising a wall connectedto and perpendicular to the platform for stabilization of an item on theplatform when the squat rack item holder is in an installed position. 5.The squat rack drink holder of claim 1, wherein the squat rack drinkholder is dimensioned to be installed on a squat rack post that hasapproximately a three-inch by three-inch square cross section.